I’m so excited… for the first time since we moved back 2 years ago, I’m headed back to France in a few weeks! I’ll be spending some time in Dijon, Reims & Poitiers and then ending the trip in Paris (with a quick sidetrip to Morocco!) I can’t wait to visit all my favorite places and go say hi to our old apartment. If you have any recommendations of new places that have popped up since we lived there, I’d love to hear them!
And just in case you want a few of my Paris recommendations, here are a few of my favorite posts from when we lived there:
Shopping Paris in 8 hours
10 things to do in Paris with kids
Paris picnic guide
Peony season in Paris
Paris flea market
At the French market
Jaime
May 28, 2014
So exciting! I was just there in March. Definitely visit Holybelly Café for breakfast or lunch. I don’t think it’s quite a year old. Amazing food and a lovely space! (And recently featured in Kinfolk’s city guide!) http://holybel.ly/
allysha
May 28, 2014
I love Reims; I got to live there for awhile. The cathedral is really incredible. Have fun!
Carrie
May 28, 2014
Jaime is right – Holybelly is a must, Coutume for coffee as well. I know nothing but pastry so L’Eclair de Genie in the Marais is new and necessary. Choux D’Enfer (close to Eiffel Tower/Bir Hakeim metro) is like a permanent food truck with filled-to-order choux and don’t miss Camion Qui Fume!
Jessica @ Little Nesting Doll
May 28, 2014
Paris is VERY high on our family’s list of places to visit, so all these ideas are great!
KJ
May 28, 2014
Septime for lunch (you can book online). Lunch is a la carte and dinner is prix fix only I believe. Modern French cooking – the new Paris! http://www.septime-charonne.fr
Rebecca Plotnick
May 28, 2014
Hollybelly is a must for sure! Foundation coffee in the Marais. Verjus for lunch in Palais Royal. What area will you be staying in? I have spent the last 6 months in Paris back and forth. You will have an amazing trip!
Ana
May 28, 2014
Paris has my heart. I’m so jealous!
Marta ABilingualBaby blog
May 28, 2014
In Paris, in the Marais area, we love the good fast food L’as du fallafel (Rue des Rosiers), Vanessa Paradis and Lenny Kravitz used to have lunch there often! We also love The Smiths Bakery at Rue de Buci. First, I went to visit this place because I love The Smiths songs, and then, I went back because the place has excellent ice creams and the staff were really friendly.
Melissa
May 28, 2014
Depending on how much time you have in Poitiers – I would recommend trying to see a theatre show or concert in their lovely new arts center.
rmaryline
May 28, 2014
I am living in Reims and I suggest you the place du forum instead of place d erlon.
Anna
May 28, 2014
I spent some time in Paris a few months back and the places I kept going back to were Verjus, for lunch, Cafe Pinson for breakfast and lunch, and Candelaria for tacos (and late night cocktails in the back room). I’m a vegetarian so all these places were super veggie friendly. I also realized in Paris that I am obsessed with taxidermy so if you’re into that Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature and Deryolle are a must!
Donnie
May 28, 2014
We are going to Paris for the first time at the end of June! I can’t wait and am looking forward to reading all the recommendations!!!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
May 28, 2014
so lucky!! have an amazing time, can’t wait to see pics! i’ve never been to paris but i dream about going! hoping my hubby and i will go on our tenth wedding anniversary… ^__^
cath
May 28, 2014
I think it’s great you are going to see other cities than Paris. In Paris though, I love
Le Bistrot du Peintre, 116 avenue Ledru Rollin 75011 Paris +33 (0)1 47 00 34 39, Metro stop Bastille or Ledru Rollin. It’s a lovely artnouveau bistrot, with great traditional French cuisine.
In Poitiers, you should definitely have lunch at Bistrot Notre Dame, near the Cathedral, I love their duck confit parmentier!!
Have a wonderful trip!
Debbie
May 29, 2014
Very useful! xx
http://debsbug.blogspot.gr/
Ashley Kolpak
May 29, 2014
How exciting! I first discovered your beautiful blog by reading all of your Paris posts. Enjoy la belle France and have fun 🙂
Jordan
May 29, 2014
I’m so excited for, and jealous of you! Have so much fun!
Don’t forget about Bethillon. I’ve never had a better ice cream cone.
francesca
May 29, 2014
god i love it there1!! have a great time
Sarah
May 29, 2014
I’m actually living in Dijon at the moment! Maybe I’ll see you around 🙂
Vanessza
May 29, 2014
if you come to Poitiers I can advise you the restaurant http://www.lesorangeries.fr/
which more than great food has obtained the award for best international sustainable restaurant in London.
http://www.tourisme-durable-orangeries.fr/2014/03/sustainable-international-restaurant-of-the-year-les-orangeries-distingues-par-le-sra.html
Bon voyage!
sonia
May 29, 2014
I heard that Septime restaurant is amazing. I’ll try to have a reservation when I’ll be in paris too. And you should go to & other stories (http://www.stories.com/fr/), love their shoes and accessories.
Justine
May 30, 2014
Hi Jordan !
I’m a french girl who recently moved into Paris for my first job as an architect 🙂
As it has been said, Holy Belly is a new place you have to try in the République/Canal Saint Martin area… But you will have to plan to eat there, the cook is very nice and make good food ! It’s really one of my favorite place to go. Try not to go there during the week-end, it’s crowded !
I also really like :
http://www.altaglio.fr/en/
They have great pizzas, to eat there or to take away ! The one at Popincourt (near Parmentier) is near my place so i often head there when i’m lazy about cooking, and, it’s quite cheap for Paris !
This restaurant is new (very “bobo” ! 😀 ), the food is very good as well. It’s near the Père Lachaise cemetery,
http://www.clint-restaurant.com
Have a very nice time in Paris !
Justine
marion
May 30, 2014
Hi Jordan
I suggest to eat in the brasserie Le Boulingrin in Reims
http://www.boulingrin.fr/
In Paris, not new but I love the ice creams at Pozzetto in Le Marais
http://www.pozzetto.biz/
Nathalie Lété an artist I really like has a showroom in Paris that seems wonderful
http://blisscocotte.fr/2014/04/une-journee-au-paradis/
I have also heard about Café Pinson, Septime.
Also near the Canal Saint Martin and Artazart this shop La tresorerie and the Cafe Smorgas
http://mamieboude.com/la-tresorerie-bazar-chic-et-cafe-suedois/
Have a good one!!!Paris in Spring is the best!
Hélène
May 30, 2014
Hej Jordan,
If you visit HollyBelly, you should walk a bit further rue Lucien Sampaix and grab a delicious pastry at Liberté – which makes amazing tarte à la crème and tarte au citron! Or in the same hood, go to Le Pain et les Idées (rue de Marseille, http://dupainetdesidees.com/en/index.php) and try one of their various ‘escargot’! And the simple crusty buttery croissant is perfect – and ruining my parisian silhouette a bit more everyday… It definitely is one of the best bakery in town! Plus, the Canal is a just a few minutes walk away. Bon appétit 🙂
Monica Brown
May 30, 2014
Have you been to “L’objet qui Parle”, a very cool brocante in Montmartre? It is an oldie, but goodie! http://abonjour.com/lobjet-qui-parle-part-ii/
Marie
May 31, 2014
Bonjour Jordan,
I would advise “les cocottes” de Christian Constant, near the Eiffel Tower, the famous chef http://www.maisonconstant.com, dish cooked and served in a cocotte, no bookings, good prices. 135 rue saint-dominique, 7eme,
. Also one you would looove “la chambre aux oiseaux” they have a fb page, 48 rue bichat, 10eme, near Canal St Martin.
And please give us some feedback and Enjoy !!
Erin
May 31, 2014
Hi! I love your blog! I’m going to Paris in a few months and would love to know from which street you took the above photo. It’s a fantastic view.
diana elizabeth
May 31, 2014
Hi Jordan, I just heard about your trip, I’ll be in the South group, so sad to miss you! Have fun! I look forward to seeing what you experience!
work in germany
June 2, 2014
I love Paris. I love your blog!!
Esmeralda
June 2, 2014
Hello !
Go for brunch at Comptoir General (http://www.lecomptoirgeneral.com/) it’s beautiful space (think vintage store, guerilla gardening, second hand books and a witch-doctor’s corner) and they have fun workshops for children on Sundays. Really rad for Paris and the food is good too !
It’s on the canal behind a big metal door, and it’s super magical.
Lisa Fontaine
June 2, 2014
Hi Jordan. I’m from the Bay Area and am currently living in Southwest France near Poitiers. If you are traveling with your kids, I highly recommend Futuroscope and Les Vallée des Singes near Poitiers. Have a great trip!
Charlotte
June 3, 2014
Dear Jordan,
In those past years, the south banks of the Seine have become the place to be: full of food trucks, bars on boats and floating gardens. I highly recommend the “Vagueàlame” in the 13th, the food is really good as in a french village party, it’s very welcoming and the vintage decoration sets up a really cool atmosphere.
If you’re in for eating inside, the “Fils à Maman” in the 9e next to Grands Boulevards is great. It’s the french mamas’ cooking with a modern twist. Nothing fancy, everything excellent. And it’s a really fun place to go with kids!
Enjoy Paris, summer is the best.
Char
June 3, 2014
We just got back from Paris! I really loved Petit Pan, which was just a couple blocks from the fromagerie Pascal Beillevaire (also found at La Grande Epicerie) which has the best butter I’ve ever tasted – seriously, get the beurre demi-sel croquant.
Agathe
June 4, 2014
Hi !
I love your blog and I live in Dijon ! So if you need some address or a guide here, it will be a pleasure to show you how Burgundy can be beautiful 🙂
Seriously, don’t hesitate to contact me ! > agathe.quignard@live.fr
Dijon is pretty cool, but it’s always better to met someone who lives in the city I’m visiting !
Hope to see you soon !
Agathe
Monica Brown
June 7, 2014
I second a visit to Petit Pan! More info
here. Also, check out my crafty tour of Paris here. So excited for your upcoming trip!
Lindsey
June 8, 2014
Jordan! Let’s do breakfast at HolyBelly !! Let me know what dates you’ll be in Paris!
Salome
June 9, 2014
Hey Jordan,
My name is Salomé and I’d like to meet you while you’re in Paris. I work with blogger Garance Doré and represent a few other blogs. Let’s have coffee?